Are Catholics making a reconquista of pop culture? Trying, perhaps, to learn from evangelical Christians by speaking about the faith in a public way?

To me, what is most interesting about the increased chatter on Catholics' faith lives is that these Catholics are willing to criticize and disagree with their church while still loving it. (See Bustedhalo's interviews with Rice or this review of Kennedy's book.) Some may criticize them, but I think these prominent Catholics reflect how a lot of normal Catholics feel. Is that why Catholics are the popular kids on the block again--because they are normal?